Method of making wheel covers



Oct. 9, 1945. ca. A. LYON 2,386,223

METHOD OF MAKING WHEEL COVERS Filed May 7, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 9,1945. V l LYON I 2,386,223

I METHOD QF MAKING WHEEL COVERS Filed May 7, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 262-0205 41.5527 Ira/v.

" Mai/@ Patented Oct. 9, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENTv OFFICE 2,386,223METHOD OF MAKING WHEEL COVERS George Albert Lyon, Allen-burst, N. J.Application May 7, 1941', Serial No. 392,222

3 Claims;

This invention relates to a method of making a wheel cover, and moreparticularly to making a multi-part wheel cover from a curved blankedshell.

An object of this invention is toeconomical method of making a hub cap.I

Still another object of. this invention is to provide a multi-part wheelcover, a plurality of parts of which can be obtained from a singleblanked shell and interconnected together with a minimum of waste.

Still anotherobject of this invention is to provide an improved methodof interconnecting a multiple number of metallic parts together to forma unitary wheel cover or hub cap.

It should be noted that the wheel cover or provide a more wheel cover orhub cap structures disclosed in this application constitute the subjectmatter of a separate invention claimed in my copendi-ng applicationSerial No. 392,223, filed May 7, 1941', now Patent No. 2,306,631,patented December 29', 1942. In accordance with the general features ofthis invention, there is provided a method of making a wheel cover fromsheet material which comprises drawing a blank into an. annulardomeshaped hollow shell having a laterally turned outer marginal flange,cutting a ring part of substantially L-shaped cross section from saidshell in which. said lateral marginal portion comprises one leg and aportion of the dome comprises the other leg, reversing the osition ofthe remaining dome portion with respect to said ring part, andconnecting the margin of said remaininglportion to said other leg ofsaid ring part,

Another feature of the invention relates to establishing the connectionsbetween the parts formed from the common shell byan intermediate annularband of metal having its inner edge fastened to one part and its otheredge fastened. to another. 1

It should be noted that I have illustrated two embodiments of myinvention, the first of which utilizes an intermediate annular bandfor'conheating the parts of the cover together, and the second of whichconnects the parts directly to each other.

Other objects and features of this'inventlon will more fully appear fromthe following detail description taken in connection with the accentpanying drawings which illustrate several embodiments of the invention,and in which: 7

Figure 1 is a cross sectional View through a blank such as metallicsheetfrom which parts of my cover are formed;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view through a cir' cular shell-like partblanked from the sheet shown in Figure 1';-

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view through an annular metallic bandwhich is utilized to interconnect the two parts formed from the shellshown in Figure 2;.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view showing how the three parts areinterconnected together to form a unitary wheel cover and illustratingin dotted lines how the edges of the intermediate annular band arelockseamed to the adjoining edges of the other parts;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken through a shell similar to thatshoWn in Figure 2 but illustrating amodified form of the invention;

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view through a wheel. cover made from thetwo parts obtained from the shell shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a side view of a Wheel showing how the first form of mycover is applied thereto;

'Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken on theline VIII-VIII of Figure 7 looking in the direction indicated by thearrows and showing the manner in which the ring-like part of my firstform of wheel cover is adapted to cooperate retainingly with a wheelspider;

Figure 9 is an enlarged. fragmentary sectional view corresponding to themiddle portion of Figure 8 and showing how a pry-off tool may be appliedto the outer edge of the cover in the removing of the cover from thewheel; and

Figure 10 is a, fragmentary sectional view corresponding to Figure 9 andshowing how the cover made in accordance with the features of the secondform of my invention is applied to a wheel spider.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference character I- designates generally a sheet of material,which may, for example, be steel, from which the circular shelldesignated by the reference character 2' is blanked by any suitablepress equipment. This shell includes a laterally extending flange 3 atsubstantially right angles to the shell. More specifically, the flange 3is at right angles to the cylindrical portion 4 of the shell whichcurves into the main crown portion 5 of convex-concave cross sectionalshape.

After" the shell 2 has been formed, it is cut into two parts on the linedesignated by the reference character 6. This results in an annularring-like part of L-shaped cross section including the two legs 3 and 4and the dome portion or part 5. The edge of the leg 4 of the ring partis then turned as indicated by dotted line 1 of Figure 2 to form acurled or turned edge on this part.

The two parts are then assembled into a wheel cover or hub cap shown inFigure 4. In this hub cap designated generally by the referencecharacter l5, the completed ring part is designated by the referencenumeral l6, and the interlocked dome part is designated by the referencenumeral ll. These two parts are interconnected by 'an intermediateannular band of metal 20 (Figure 3) having its peripheral edgesinterlocked or lock-seamed to the adjoining edges of the dome part 11and the ring part [6 (Figure 4) It should be noted that in the processof assembling the parts of the hub cap, the dome part is reversed inposition with respect to the ring part 16, so that it is disposed On topof the horizontal flange of the ring part as shown in Figure 4. I shalldescribe this form of the in- .vention more fully hereinafter inconnection with the manner in which the product thereof, namely, the hubcap. cooperates with the wheel as shown in Figures 7 and 9.

In Figures 5 and 6, I have illustrated a modification of the inventionwherein the ensuing product comprises only two parts instead of three asin the first described form of the invention. In accordance with thisform of the invention, a convex-concave hollow shell 2' is first blankedfrom a sheet of metal. This shell is then cut on the line 6' to form aring-like part 4' and'a dome part 5'. It should be noted that thering-like part 4' includes a laterally extending flange 3', the outeredge of which is adapted to be rolled or beaded as indicated in dottedlines by 8". The laterally extending flange 3' may, if desired, beturned rearwardly relative to the dome, as shown in Figure 6. The

inner edge also of the ring 4 is adapted to be curled as indicated at 1'to form a beaded edge, so that both edges of the annular ring are turnedor beaded.

After the cutting operation as in the preferred form of the invention,the dome part is reversed in position with respect to the ring part, sothat the marginal edge of the dome part may be interlocked with theannular ring part as shown in Figure 6. In this form of the invention,in steadof effecting the connection of the dome part to the ring part bymeans of an intermediate band the dome part is directly attached to thering part. In the completed hub cap 15', I have designated the dome partby the reference numeral l1 and the ring part by the reference numeralI6.

I shall now proceed to describe both of these forms of the inventionwith particular reference to how the ensuing product, or hub capcooperates with a wheel. The particular angular formation of the partsand their purpose will become more evident from a description of how theensuing product cooperates with the spider of an automobile wheel.

As shown in Figures '7, 8, and 9, the reference character. In designatesgenerally a conventional drop center type of tire rim connected in theusual way to a central wheel spider or body part II. This spider has abulged convexconoave nose portion I2 on which there is provided radiallyinwardly extending protruberances [3 for retaining cooperation with thehub cap or wheel cover previously designated generally by the referencecharacter I5. The spider is also of providing flange portion [4 adaptedto be bolted on an axle part in the usual way.

It should be noted that while in both forms of the invention I haveshown the wheel cover of a diameter such that it constitutes a hub cap,the invention is not to be thus limited, since the cover could also bein the form of a larger disk extending out closer to the tire rim of thewheel.

As best shown in Figure 9, the ring part [6 in reality comprises theskirt of 'thehub cap and is of an L-shaped cross section; It includestwo legs 18 and I9, leg l8 extending axially of the wheel andtelescoping the nose portion of the spider, and the leg l9 extendingradially outwardly over the nose portion l2 for concealing the retainingprotuberances or bumps l3.

The inner edge of the leg I6 is turned as indicated at 1 so as toprovide the cover with a continuous flexible inner edge adapted to besnapped over and into retaining cooperation with the retaining bumps l3on the nose portion (2 of the wheel, the edge being under stress when inretaining engagement with the bumps.

The central crown part I1 is of convex-concave cross sectional shape andmay be formed from the central portion of the blank from which the ringpart 16 is fabricated. The material from which these two parts l6 and I!are formed is preferably of steel sheet, and I have obtained excellentresults from the use of relatively low carbon steel such as .25 to .30carbon steel. I have, in the fabricating of these parts from such metalsheet, used annealed steel so as to enable a relatively deep draw in theformation of the part I! from the central stock taken from the centerofthe ring it.

In order to. provide the ring with an ornamented or lustrous appearance,I have found it desirable to make the annular corrugated band part 2 0of steel such as stainless steel. This. enables the ensuing cover tohave an ornamented or trimmed appearance, where, for'example, the outerband part 20 may be lustrous and the central crown part l'l may befinished in color. This also provides a more economical construction inthat it is not necessary to make the entire cover or hub cap ofstainless steel whichis considerably more expensive than annealed lowcarbon steel.

The central crown part I! has its outer edge turned axially rearwardlyas shown at 26 and is interlocked or lockseamed with the inner edge 21of'the annular band 20.

It will be noted that the outer edge 21 of the crown part I1. is inreality in telescoping cooperation'with the other part 20 of the coverso that it is firmly interlocked therewith.

The outer edge 2! of the band 20 is folded or turned radially inwardlyover a flattened offset portion 23 on the outer edge of the vertical legIQ of the ring part Hi. This enables an interlocked or lockseamedconnection between the outer edges of the two parts 20 and I6 which isoifset axially outwardly from the nose portion l2 of the spider H. H

The advantage of the above described feature a laterally offset lockseambetween the outer edges of the leg l9 and the band 20 is that itprovides a space between the Plane of the leg l9 and the turned edge 22vof the band 20 in which a pry-off tool P can be inserted for the purposeof prying the cover or hub cap out of retaining cooperation with theprotuberance means orbumps I3. r

In Figure 10, I have illustrated how the hub cap l5 made in accordancewith my modified form of process is applied to a wheel spider. I haveused the same numerals in this figure and in Fig. 9 to designatecorresponding parts of the wheel.

The hub cap IS in this form of the invention comprises two parts,namely, a ring part l6 and a crown or central part 11'. The ring part Itis of an L-shaped cross section and includes an axially extending leg I8in telescoping and snapon cooperation with the retaining protuberancesl3 on the wheel spider. The ring part 16' also includes a vertical leg I9' extending radially outwardly and terminating in a turned edge 8'adapted to overlie an outer face of the nose portion I2 of the spiderfor the purpose of concealing the retaining bumps 3.

The central part I1 is of a convex-concave cross sectional configurationand includes a rearwardly turned outer edge 26' telescoping the ringpart l6 and fastened to the leg i8 by any suitable means, such, forexample, as welds 25. In this form of the invention, both of the partsmay be made from the same material. Also, the part l'l may be formedfrom the central waste stock removed from the center of the blank fromwhich the ring part I6 is formed.

It should, of course, be understood that, while I have described mynovel hub cap as best made I of steel, other suitable material, such,for example, as plastic, might be used in the fabrication of the same.

In prying off the hub cap l6 shown in Figure 10, a suitable pry-01ftool, such, for example, as a screw driver may b inserted under theturned edge 8' for the purpose of forcibly ejecting the hub cap out ofretained cooperation with the protuberances or bumps I3.

I claim as my invention:

1. The method of making a three-piece wheel cover including a centralcircular part, an intermediate annular part and an annular snap-onflange from sheet material which comprises drawing a blank into acircular dome-shaped hollow shell having a laterally turned outermarginal flange, cutting a ring part of substantially L- shaped crosssection from said shell in which part said lateral marginal portioncomprises one leg and a portion of the dome comprises the other leg,reversing the position of the remaining dome portion with respect tosaid ring part, positioning an intermediate annular band in alignmentwith and following generally the curvature of said dome portion,securing the inner peripheral margin of said band to the outerperipheral margin of said dome, and positioning the outer margin of saidlateral marginal flange of the ring part adjacent the outer margin ofsaid band and securing it thereto with the other leg of said ring partextending rearwardly.

2. The method of making a three-piece wheel cover including a centralcircular part, an intermediate annular part and an annular snap-onflange from sheet of material which comprises drawing a blank into acircular dome-shaped hollow shell having a laterally turned outermarginal flange, cutting a ring part of substantially L-shaped crosssection from said leg in which part said lateral marginal portioncomprises one i leg and a portion of the dome comprises the other leg,reversing the position of the remaining dome portion with respect to thering part, fastening the outer edge of said dome portion to an inneredge of an intermediate annular band, and connecting said ring part tothe outer edge of said band thus to provide a unitary dome-shaped coverin which said ring part constitutes a rearwardly extending coverretaining skirt.

3. The method of making a multi-part wheel cover including ring andcrown parts and an intermediate annular member disposed radiallyintermediate the ring and crown parts which comprises the steps ofinterlocking the outer peripheral portion of the crown part with aperipheral part of the annular member, forming at the other peripheralportion of the ring part an axially offset, radially extending flange,forming at the peripheral part of the intermediate annular member aradially extending flange and forming the flange on the intermediatemember around the offset flange on the ring to envelop the same tointerlock the ring and the intermediate member together and to formcontemporaneously therewith a multi-thickness flange offset radially andaxially from the main body of the ring to aiford an under surface of theflange accessible in use for the app ication of an edge 01" a pry-ofitool thereto during removal of the cover from a wheel.

GEORGE ALBERT ILYON.

